Apparatus for the softening or purifying of water or for carrying out processes based upon exchange reactions



Nov. 13, T928. 1,691,862

R. H. THOMSON ET AL APPARATUS FOR THE SOFTENING OR PURIFYING OF WATER OR FOR CARRYING OUT PROCESSES BASED UPON EXCHANGE REACTIONS Filed March 15, 1928 I f' JWJTM raiser ave is, teas.

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ROBERT HUNTER THOMSON, 0F KINGSTON-ON-THAMES, AND HAROLD SYDNEY LAW- RENCE, 0E ILEURD, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS T0 UNITED WATER SOMENERS nm- ITED, 0F LQNJDQN, ENGLAND, .A BRITISH COMPANY.

APPARATUS WEB THE SOETENING OR PUEIFYING 03 WATER GR FOR GREETING- @Ull EEQCESSES BASED O'PQN EXCHANGE REAGTIQNS. 4

. Application filed March 15, 1928, Serial No. 261%58, and in Great "Britain March 11, 1927.

This invention relates to apparatus for carrying out processes involving exchmge reactions and more particularly to apparatus for softeningwater and for purifying water, for example, for removing iron compounds therefrom.

It is the main object of the present invention'to produce a simple form of apparatus in which successive operations or" carrying out an exchange reaction, regenerating the exchange material and washing the same may be carried out automatically, that is to say, without the need of control by human agency, and is simple so as not to have any liability to become out of order and is yet economical of regenerating agent and washing water. a

According to the present invention, an apparatus is arranged so that the successiveoperations consisting in the treatment of water or other liquid by an exchange material, regeneration of that exchange material and washing of the same are carried out in cycles in the same vessel or vessels and are controlled by the operationof valves admitting the liquid to be treated and the regenerating solution and allowing of the outflow of the treated liquid, for example, to storage tanks or to a main, and or the exhausted'r'egenerate ing agent and wash water to waste; these valves are controlled automatically by a balance mechanism which derives its power from the liquid. This is efiected by leading some of the liquid to a receptacle forming part of the balance mechanism, for example the liquid may be passed after treatment to a proportioning device from which a proportion or fraction or" the treated liquid may be led to the receptacle on the balance mechanism.

. This balance mechanism may conveniently consist of a lever mounted to rock about a spindle which is operatively connected with the various valves, the receptacle being mounted'upon one arm of the lever, and a weight being arranged to move between limits The liquid will then be admitted to the receptacle, and when the latter is full the mechanism will automatically be moved so as to admit the regenerating solution. The lever will be restored to its initial position when the receptacle has emptied itself. Since time must be allowed for complete regeneration to take place and for the exhausted regeneration solution to bethoroughly washed out with water, the receptacle is arranged to em ty itself slowly; for example a siphon may arranged with an adjustable valve so that the time taken for the emptying may be regulated easily. The weight moves-along the arm of the balanced lever from'nearlto the end of that arm to a point close to the axis about which the'lever rocks, and is made less than the weight of the liquid in the receptacle when the latter is full. Thearrangement is preferably such that the weight moves out to the end of the arm as soon as the balance mechanism starts to return to its original positiomand thus the necessary turning couple for operating the valves is ensured. A lostlmotion device may be inserted between the balance'mechanism and the valves so as to allow the mechanism to rock ithrgugh a small angle before taking up the Preferably the treated liquid is led to a small tank provided with two orifices of different sizes, and the outflow from the small orifice then goes to the receptacle on the balance mechanism. Such an arrangement ensures that the fraction of the liquid'passing to the receptacle will be constant.

' A further feature of the present invention consists in maintaining the regenerating solution in a concentrated form in a storage tank from which it flows to a small measuring vessel having an outlet larger than the inlet from the storage tank. This measuring vessel is provided with a float valve arranged to close the outlet when the level of regenerating solution in the vessel falls suficiently.

The invention isparticularly applicable" to apparatus used in the softening of water by means of exchange material such as artificial or natural zeolite or glauconite, but it is applicable to other exchange reactions; for example it can readily be applied to the removal of iron compounds from water by the use of an exchange material containing manganese. Furthermore it can, of course, be applied to water softening plant in which the flow dur-. ing softening is either downwards or upwards through the bed. I

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, a water softening plant in which the flow is downwards through the bed will new be described more fully byway of example with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the plant some parts being in section;

Figure 2 shows to an enlarged scale a,view of the linkage mechanism by which the valves are operate v v In'the drawings struction is filled with a bed of base exchange glauconite. The crude water to be softened entersthrough a pipe 2 provided with a control. valve 3 and flows downwards throu h the bedsof glauconite. An outlet pipe 4 lea s from nearthebottom of the container 1 and has two branches, a pipe 5 with a control valve .6 for the softened water'and a pipe 7 with a control va1vej8 through which the efll-uent from the container 1 .flows to waste during the processes of regeneration and washing of the glauconite bed.

. The-brine used for regeneration is kept in concentrated form in a storage tank 9 which communicates' b' .way of a pipe 10 with a measuring vesse 11., The outlet of-this vessel 11 is connected by a pipe 12 having a control valve 13 with the intake of an ejector nected by mechanical linkages 15, 16, 17 and.

nozzle 14 disposed iii-the inlet pipe 2.

The control valves 3,6,8 and 13 are con- 18 respectively .t'oahori'zontalspindle 19 on which a lever 20 is rigidly fixed. One arm of this lever 20 is shaped as a receptacle 21 into ,which water is delivered through a pipe 22,

and the other arm of the lever 20 is made as a hollow tube in which a spherical weight 23 canroll. The lever '20 is so proportioned that the tubular armjust overbalances the receptacle when the latter is empty, but when the latter 'is full the weight of the water and the ireceptacle 'ust overbalan'ces the tubu'lar'arm and the sp erical weight 23 even though the weight is at the endo tliearm. A siphon 24 is rovided inthe receptacle 21 and has an ad ustable valve 25, so that when the receptacle 21 is full and the lever 20 tilts to the position shown in dotted'lines in Figure 1, the receptacle slowly empties itself at a rate that can easily be regulated. j w i The water which flows into the receptacle 21 through the pipe 22 is a fixed proportion or fraction of the soft water passing out through the pipe 5. This proportioning is effected by arranging the pipe 5 to deliver into a small proportioning box or tank 26 provided with a relatively large-orifice 27 and a relatively small orifice 28. The ma jority of the water in the tank 26 will then flow through the orifice 27 into a soft water storage tank or reservoir 29, but clearly a small but fixed proportion of the softened water will flow through the orifice 28 into the a container 1 of usual contop of the pipe 5 and is controlled by a float- 31 so that when the tank 29 is full the operation of'the whole apparatus. may be stopped.

The measuring vessel 11 for the regenerating brine comprises a small cylinder through the top of which a pipe 32 projects.

The other end ofthis pipe 32 communicates with the top of the brine storage tank 9, and the depth which the pipe projects into the Vessel 11 may easily be adjusted. I A small disc 33 is arranged to slidein the vessel 11 above material, such for example as grains'of baked fa float 34- which is. shaped so as-to close the outlet pipe 12 from thesvessel 11 when it is in its lowest position. This, outlet pipe 12 is -made of largercross-section than the inlet through the pipe 4 paming through the pipe 5 to the proportioning box 261 As explained above, a definite small fraction of the soft-;- ened water passes from. the box 26 down through the pipe 22 into the rece tacle 21; The amount of water passing into t is receptacle 21 is so arranged that the bedlof'glauconite is practically exhausted'during thetime taken to fill the receptacle. When the receptacle 21 is full, the lever 20 tilts over, and-as soon as it has passed the horizontal, the weight'23 runs down the tubular armof the lever 20 with theresult that the lever is then considerably unbalanced, and in turning further to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, can exert suflicient power to move the valves 3, 6, 8 and; 13. r In order to allow the lever 20 to begin to move without having to move the valves, a lost motion deviceis inserted in thespindle'19.- This lost motion device consists ofa horizontal projecting arm 35 WlllCll can movebetween the two arms of a fork 36. Whenthe lever 20 has turned to the position shown in dot-ted lines, the valves 8 and 13 will then "be'completely open,'and the valve 6 completely shut, while the. valve 3 in the inlet pipe 2 will then be artiallyrshut. At the same time, the siphon 24 will have been completely covered, and water will, therefore, begin to run out -ofthe' siphon .24 to waste.

The reduced stream of water passing through the inlet pipe 2 and ejector nozzle 14 will draw in brine from the measuring Vessel 11 so that the glauconite bed will be regenerated. Atfthe start of the regeneration the measuring vessel 11 will be'filled up to the level ofthe bottomof the pipe 32, but since the pipe 12 is largerthan the pipe 10 it will gradually empty itself, and consequently the float 34 will sink until finally when-it is near the bottom it will be drawn down quickly to close the outlet pipe/12' by reason of the suction of the ejector 14. Concentrated brine will continue to flow, however, from the tank 9 through the pipe 10 until the disc 33 rises into contact with the end of the pipe 32, thus providing a fresh measured charge of brine for the next period of regeneration. However, when the float 34 has closed the outlet pipe 12, crude water will continue to pass through the inlet pipe 2 and down through the glauconite'bed, washing out the exhausted brine solution. Both this wash water and the exhausted brine solution, of course, pass to waste through the pipe 7.

The adjustable valve 25 on the siphon 24 is so arranged that the time taken for the receptacle 21 to empty itself is'exactly that required for the regeneration and washing of the glauconite bed. When the receptacle 21 is completely empty, the lever 20 will start to turn back to the position shown in full lines in Figure 1, and as soon as it has passed the horizontal, the weight 23 will roll from the point close to the axis of the spindle19 to the extremeendof the tubular arm of the lever, and will thus provide the necessary power for the return of the various control valves to the positions in which softening takes place. B reason of the lost motion device 35, 36, t e'lever 20 is again free to start to turn before it has to take up the load of the valves.

The apparatus illustrated and described in detail has been given merely by way of example. The invention is not, of course, in any way limited to it. For example, any suitable form of proportioning device may be used in'place of the box 26, or in the case of' a supply to a pressure main, the box 26 may be enclosed and subjected to pressure in the main; in this case, however, the flow through the small orifice 28 may still return to the re-' ceptacle 21.

Again, it will be clear that although in the apparatus described a proportion of the softened water is delivered into the receptacle 21, the plant may easily be arranged so that instead the proportion of the hard water entering the apparatus may be used to fill the receptacle. Further, of course, anyisuitable arrangement of linkage ma be employed between the spindle about w ich the balanced lever turns and the valves, and again it will be obvious that instead of employing themoving weight, a receptacle could be arranged at each end of the balance mechanism and could equally be supplied with water.

Finally, the proportioning device may be replaced by any suitable form of liquid meter arranged to close an electric circuit when a predetermined amount of liquid has passed. In this case the flow of liquid into the receptacle on the balance mechanism should be such that the receptacle will just be filled The closing1 1 be determined e rate at which liquid flows outin the shortest time in which the said .predefilled before the catch is released, the liquid which continues to flow in can easily escape. Since the treated liquid outlet pipe will be.

closed directly the-catch is released and the balance mechanism tilts, no further liquid will flow to the meter until the receptacle has emptied itself and the balance mechanism We claim: Y

has tilted back to its original position.

1. An apparatus for thetreatment of liquid by a base-exchan e material, consisting of a container for the ase exchange material, inlet and outlet pipes for the liquid tobetreated connected tosaid container, a control valve arranged in said inlet pipe, a balance lever mechanism linked to said valve,'a receptacle mountedupon said mechanism-,and means for supplying a predetermined proportion-of the liquid flowing from the treating tus to said receptacle.

2. An apparatus to by a base exchange material, consisting of a container-for the base exchange material,

inlet and outlet pipes for the liquid to be appara= the treatment of liquid treated connected to said container, a control valve arranged insaid, inlet'pipe, a balance .lever mechanism linked to said'valve, a receptacle mounted upon sald mechanism, and

iai

a proportioning device associatedwith'said outlet pipe for supplying a fraction-of the treated liquid to said receptacle.

3. An ap aratus for treating a liquid by I means of a ase exchange material, comprising a container for said base; exchange material, inlet and outlet pipes for the liquid connectedto said-container valves in said pipes for controlling the iniiow and outflow of liquid to the container, a storage tank for regeneratin solution, apipe connectingsaid tank to sai container, a controlling valve in said. pipe, a drain connection from said container, av valve controllin said drain connection, a balance lever device linked to all four of said valves, a receptacle mounted upon said balance lever device, and means for leading some of the liquid to said receptacle.

4. An apparatus for the softening of water, comprisin a container for base exchange material, inlet and outlet pipes for water to be treated connected to said container, a storage tank for regenerating solution, a c'onnect ing pipe from said tank to said container, a valve in said last-mentioned pipe, a balance lever mechanism linked to said'valve, a receptacle carried upon said balance dever mechanism, meansfor leading some of the liquid-to said rec'e tacle so as to ove'rbalance said mechanism a er the flow of a predetermined amount of liquid, and 'a siphon, device for emptying-said receptacle in order to al- .low the return of said balance mechanism to cut off the supply of regenerating solution.

5. An apparatus for the softening of water,

comprising a container for base exchange material, inlet and outlet pipes for water to be treated connected to said container, a storage tank for regenerating solution and a connecting pipe for said storage receptacle to said container, a valve in said last-mentioned pipe, a balance lever mechanism linked to said valve, a receptacle carried upon said balance lever mechanism, means for leading some of the liquid to said receptacle so as to overbalance said mechanism after the flow of a predetermined amount of liquid, a siphon device for emptying said receptacle in order to allow the return of said,,balance mechaing apparatus to said receptacle, and a weight carried onthe other arm of said lever so as to be movable thereon between limits.

7. An apparatus for the treatment of a liquid by a base exchange material, consisting of a container for base exchange material, inlet and outlet pipes for said liquid connected to said container, a control valve in said inlet pipe, a supply. pipe for regenerating solution connected to said container, a control valve in said last-mentioned pipe, a balance lever mechanism operative between and directly linked to said control valves, and means for permitting rocking of said lever after a predetermined volume of liquid has flowed and for return of the same after a predetermined further interval of time.

8. An apparatus for the treatment of a liquid by a base exchange material, consisting of a container for base exchange material, inlet and outlet pipes for the liquid to said container, a storagetank for regeneratmg solut1on, a pipe connecting said tank to said container, a dram connection from said container, valves controlling each of saidthree pipes, and said drain connection, a vdoutermined volume of ble armed balanced lever, a shaft linked to said valves, and a lost motion connection between said ,double-armed lever and said shaft.

9.'An' apparatus for v the softening of water, consisting of a container for base exchange material,'inlet and out-let pipes for the water connected to said container, a storage-tank for regenerating solution, a measuring vessel for said solution, an inlet pipe to, said. measuring vessel from said tank, an outlet pipe fro1n sa1d measuring vessel to said container and of larger cross-section than said second mentioned inlet pipe, 21.

valve in said second mentioned outletpipe, means for opening said valve after a predewater has flowed through the container and for closing said valve after a measured volume of regenerating solution has flowed through same.

10. An apparatus. for the softening of water, consisting of a container for base exchange material, inlet and outlet pipes for the water connected to said container, a storage tank for regenerating solution, a meas- V uring vessel for said solution, an inlet pipe to said measuring vessel from said tank, an outlet pipe from said measuring vessel to said container and of larger cross-section than saidsecond mentioned inlet pipe, a valve in said second mentioned outlet pipe, means for opening said valve after a predetermined volume of water has flowed through the container and for closing said valve after a lnease urcd volume of regenerating solution has flowed through same, and a float valve in said measuring vessel arranged to close the outlet pipe therefrom when said vessel has become empty.

11. An apparatus for softening water, consisting of a container for base exchange maerial, inlet and outlet pipes for the water connected to saidcontainer, a storage tank for regenerating solution, a small closed measuring vessel for said solution, an inlet pipe from said storage tank to said measuring vessel, an outlet pipe from said measuring vessel to said container of'largcr crosssection than said second mentioned inlet pipe,

an automatically operated control valve in said second mentioned outlet pipe, a vent pipe connecting said measuring vessel with said storage tank above the level of the solution therein, and a-float valve in said measuring vessel adapted to close said vent pipe when said measuring vessel contains a predetermined volume of solution but to sink and close the solution outlet pipe when the predetermined volume of solution has flowed to the container.

In witness whereof we hereunto subscribe our names this 6th day of March, 1928.

' ROBERT HUNTER THOMSON.

HAROLD SYDNEY LAWRENCE. 

